14: Just How I Like It

(Lucy's POV)

"So what are you even telling us?" Sting asked, as he situated more comfortable in his chair. Frida smiled subtly, and Rogue tilted his head.

"Did you finally kiss her?" Rogue asked him. I blushed and looked down, and Sting seemed irritated.

"Piss off," he told him. I smiled. Figured Sting would say that. We focused our attention back on Frida who was still smiling.

"Well actually I want to talk about everything that's happened so far…and…Clara."

"Clara?!" Sting asked.

"How do you know about Clara?!" I asked.

Frida smirked, but didn't elaborate.

"So what's happened so far?" she asked.

Sting and I looked at each other, confused.

"What do you mean what's happened so far?" he asked.

"I think she means what's happened so far between the two of you, since the beginning," Rogue said, breaking in. Sting glared at him.

"Why would you want to know that?" I asked. Frida gave another little smile but remained quiet. Why was she asking about Clara? Did she know her? Wait a minute…

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you like Clara. Clara was a crazy evil bitch. Sorry about her… come on, come on!"

The memory hit me with the force of a falling building. Didn't Frida tell me that when I first met her? How did I not remember that…why didn't I say anything about that? Why did I not notice that?

"You know her somehow, don't you?" I asked. Frida's face lit up and she clapped her hands way too happily. Clara…yeah Frida kind of acted like her…but how did they know each other?

"Clare was my aunt. But don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you or anything. I hated Clara. Every time I went to visit her she would always hide me and when I started living with her people were surprised I even existed. She was always on the lookout or you. That's how I knew so much about you, and I wanted to meet you. I'm glad she's gone...well not gone per se, but I'm glad she finally got everything settled. I mean, I ran away from her when I was eight and I came here. This used to be her real house before she got stuck there," Frida said.

"What about your parents?" Sting asked.

Frida threw him a glance before she said, "Mom died. Father disappeared. I don't really care though...it was such a long time ago. I barely remember them although I do kind of wonder what happened to my dad...haha oh well, right?" I looked at her. She wasn't saying this for sympathy or anything. In fact, it seemed that she hardly cared but why did she want to meet me? I voiced my question out loud and Frida smiled shyly.

"I admire you, Lucy. I've heard a lot about you and I watched you at the Grand Magic Games. I thought you were absolutely amazing. I want to become a celestial mage too when I'm a little older although I'm thinking about joining a guild soon..."

"What about Fairy Tail?" I asked her, beyond pleased with her response. She admired me? Why would she ever admire me? I didn't even know that I had "fans" at the Games. I smiled.

"No. I'm probably not going to become a Fairy Tail mage because I also look at you as my future rival and I don't want to be in the same guild as my future rival," she said, matter-of-factly. I pursed my lips, amused and a little saddened. I kind of did want her to be in our guild...

"You're not going to join Sabertooth are you?" I asked finally.

"Hey!" Sting accused me. I grinned and Frida just shook her head.

"Oh god no. No offense to you guys but your guild kind of scares me..." Frida trailed off, keeping her eyes on me and me only. However, neither Sting or Rogue seemed upset. In fact they actually seemed a little proud...agh why did I fall for Sting again? I mean, he's from Sabertooth.

What the hell is wrong with me?! I veered away from the question knowing that I did not want to start some long internal debate right at the moment.

I am not in the mood.

"So who are you wanting to join?" I asked. I watched as Frida pursed her lips and looked down.

"I think I might join Mermaid Heel because after watching them in the Games I really began to respect them...plus I don't think I could handle being in a guild with boys right now...I don't think I could barely handle being in a guild with all girls...I've never really socialized before because well like I said...Clara," she mumbled, bowing her head. I gave her a wry smile.

"Well I hope for the best. Maybe one day it will be me and you going against each other in the games and if I ever decide to retire I think I might even give you my keys...maybe. I totally might just give them to my daughter or son if I have one...actually yeah I can't guarantee anything really...I need to stop talking...but who would be the father? I mean if I was going to have a son or a daughter or maybe even both then who would—"

"Hey Blondie! Shut it would you!" Sting cut in, irritated. I turned to him and stuck my tongue out at him.

"Oh quit it jerk. It's not my fault I was thinking aloud," I defended myself.

"Actually, it is, so would you please shut it. I want to go home," he said. I frowned at him. Asshole. I crossed my arms and stood firmly on the ground.

"Well when you say it like that then no. I'm not ready to leave yet. Actually I think I might want to stay here forever. How about it, Bumblebee?" I asked, as sweetly as I could manage. I could practically hear his hiss.

"Who are you calling Bumblebee!" he protested.

"Well obviously the bumblebee who appears to like his honey too much!" I shouted back at him. I frowned at what I said. That didn't really make much se—

"That doesn't even make sense!" he exclaimed. "What does that even mean I like my honey too much! Jeez, what the hell is wrong with you?!" He glared at me, but before I could respond he kept talking. "I mean seriously! You confuse me in more ways than one Miss Damsel! Why the hell did I fall for a brat like you?!" Oh that did it.

"Brat?!" I screeched. "You're the asshole! At least I try and control my brattiness! You don't even try! You're just really mean and it pisses me off! Asshole!"

We stood there, fuming.

"Well who cares if you like it so much anyways?!"

"What?!" I exclaimed. "What makes you think I like it?!"

"Well you like me so if you like me then obviously you like that since that's me! It's part of the deal sweet cheeks," he explained, not too calmly.

"Same goes to you!" I rationalized. "If you like me then oh obviously you like that I know what I want and that I will say if I want it! You know how I know?! Because you like me! Ha!"

"So you're saying I like the fact that you're a brat?" He asked it as if it made no sense at all, despite what he said himself.

"Well you were saying that I liked the fact that you were an asshole!" I defended myself.

"I never said that," he deadpanned. I stared at him. So now he was just going to pretend none of that even happened? What the hell?

"Well I'm not leaving," I said. There was no point on even continuing the pointless argument.

"What the hell Blondie! Let's leave!" he yelled again. This time, however, I didn't even look at him as I walked over to the kitchen table and sat myself down in the chair. I looked at Frida, still ignoring Sting's protests in the background.

"Do you want to eat something Frida?" I asked. Someone snickered and I turned my head to see that it was Rogue. I smiled when he saw that I saw him for he immediately put on his impassive face again. Frida just looked confused.

"Ermm...sure?" she said. She didn't sound too sure.

"Fine!" I turned back to see Sting throw up his hands. "I'm leaving! You don't need to come anyways!" he exclaimed.

My glare hardened to steel. Aww fuck no. I stood up abruptly, knocking the chair down.

"So you're just going to leave?" I asked.

"Yup!" he said, turning to leave.

"Fine!" I screamed. "Leave! Asshole!"

"See you later brat!" he called over his shoulder as he walked out.

What the fuck?! Did he think I was going to go after him?! Well the asshole thought wrong! Ha! I'll show him! I'll make him regret walking out that damn door!

I sat myself back down, ignoring the worried glances that Rogue and the cats threw at me as they followed Sting out.

I'll show the bastard.

(Sting's POV)

Why is she not following me? Damnit! This was supposed to work!

"Hey Sting?" Lector asked. I looked down at him. I had stopped walking just about ten feet outside the cottage because I was waiting for the princess.

"Yeah?" I asked, becoming more pissed off at every passing second that Lucy wasn't out here.

"I don't think Lucy's coming out here. She looked pretty pissed off too..."

"Oh no she'll be coming out any second now," I said, trying to convince myself more than anything. She had to come out, right? I mean she liked me so of course she had to come...right?

"O-okay..." Lector trailed off. I could hear the doubt in his voice and I hated it. He was probably right about Lucy. Damnit. Why am I waiting for her anyways? Why does she matter?

Because you fucking practically love her Sting.

I forced that thought back down and watched as the door opened. I perked up, seeing if it was Lucy, but when I saw Rogue walk out, that just made me more pissed off.

"Is she not coming?" I wondered aloud. Of course she isn't. She's as stubborn as me, maybe even more. You knew she wasn't going to come out when you forced the situation on her like this. "Fuck," I mumbled.

"Just go back in already," Rogue said, cutting into my thoughts.

"What?" I asked. He sighed.

"You're going to go back in anyways so you might as well do it now," he stated as if it were oh so obvious.

"I'm not going back in," I resolved, crossing my arms. Rogue raised his eyebrows and that only irritated me more. "I'm not," I repeated. Rogue said nothing for a while.

"Well whatever you do I'm leaving. Our mission is complete so just catch up when you can, okay? I'll be back at the guild," he said. "Come on Frosch."

I stared at them with wide eyes as they abandoned me. Great friends.

Well should I wait more or just leave? I was not going back inside.

Definitely not.

I was not going to let her win.

"Sting?" Lector asked, concerned.

"We're waiting Lector," I finally concluded. "She'll have to come out eventually." This was my reasoning.

I just hoped that it was correct.

(Lucy's POV)

He is a complete asshole. Why do I even put up with him? Is he still out there? Did he already leave? Well I'm not going out there...but what if he is waiting? Then he should just come inside already!

"Are you okay Lucy?" Frida asked, sounding worried.

"Yeah I'm just pissed at the jackass," I mumbled, crossing my arms as I glared at the door.

"Do you think he's still out there?" she asked.

"Don't know," I said. "And I don't care," I added.

"Oh...okay then. Well do you want something to eat? Ooh! I know! Could you talk to me about Celestial magic a bit?! Please?!" she pleaded. I smiled.

"Sure, I'd be glad to," I said. "And no I'm not really all that hungry. I only said that earlier to piss off Sting." Frida looked at me and laughed suddenly. "What?" I asked. "What are you laughing at?"

"I think that's the first time I ever heard you call him by his real name. I was almost convinced you forgot it haha," she giggled. I smiled. That was true. I didn't call Sting by his name all that much since all I ever really called him were insults. Well he deserved it so who cares, right?

"Well what kind of name is "Sting" anyways though?" I snorted.

"A good name."

I spun around and found myself staring at Sting, who looked nothing short of pissed off.

"S-Sting?" I asked, honestly surprised. I was sure that he actually left.

"So while I've been waiting for you to come out you were making fun of my name? Why am I not surprised?!" he exclaimed.

Oh.

Oops.

I gave a half-hearted grin to try and ease the tension, but it had the opposite effect.

"Don't just grin at me you damn princess! Do you know how long I've been waiting?!"

I glanced at the time and concluded my answer.

"Well you walked out that door like ten minutes ago so ten minutes?" I guessed.

"Damn right ten minutes! Wait...what? Aww come on! It's only been ten minutes?!" he yelled. I just stared at him, eyes wide.

"Uh yeah? Why? Is that not long enough for you to be considered manly?" I teased.

He glared at me.

"I just thought it was longer or something..." he mumbled. I cracked another grin. Wow. Ten minutes waiting must have felt like an eternity in his mind.

"You're stupid," I stated.

"Well you're a spoiled brat!"

"You're an asshole!"

"You're a know-it-all!"

"You're a dumbass!"

"You're a really nice bitch!"

The last one stopped me short. Was that a compliment or an insult?

"Well you're a really sweet jackass!" I exclaimed back.

"Well you're pretty freaking cute!" he yelled.

"You're really muscular! What is up with that?!" I screamed. I blushed at what I said. Shit. Did I actually say that out loud?

"Oh really? Thanks. I work out," he said, toning down his voice, but instead giving a full-fledged smirk instead.

"And you're also a cocky, annoying, arrogant bastard," I muttered angrily at him.

"That you like," he pointed out.

"No no no no not this again," I groaned. "Just sit down already. We'll leave in ten minutes. I think we have some explaining to do to some people even though I don't know why..." I said.

"Agreed," he said.

I looked back at Frida who seemed to be trying very hard from bursting out into laughter.

"Do you have some ramen?" Sting asked. I punched him on the shoulder.

"We're leaving in ten minutes idiot," I hissed.

"Oh yeah," he said dumbly. I rolled my eyes.

"Why do I like you?" I asked again. He smirked.

"Cuz you like me," was all he said.

I glared at him, but couldn't keep it up. He seemed genuinely happy at what he just said so in the end my face turned back into a small smile.

"Yeah. Makes no sense but it's true," I admitted.

"You guys are adorable. Come on. Just stay for a while longer. I'll make ramen," Frida said.

"Fine," I laughed. Sting and I took our seats and we continued to bicker about who knows what. I didn't care.

It was just how I liked it.

*Shit. I know. I'm a shitty human being for not updating this sooner. Many things happened etcetera etcetera. Either way it's updated. Plus I made most of it just pure fluff for you guys. Thanks for still sticking with me.

Now the next chapter will be the official last chapter and there is a 95% chance there will be an epilogue. So there you have it. This story is almost done. Whew. About time. :)

Well even though I'm a shitty human being would you please leave a review? Thank you for reading. Love you all.

Bai guys :)

-DiAnna44

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